Indonesia Chosen as Member of UN Human Rights Council

New York, MINA – Indonesia was elected as a Member of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UN) for the period 2020-2022 through a vote that took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the United States on Thursday (17/10).

The President of the 74th General Assembly of the United Nations, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande from Nigeria announced that Indonesia had won the biggest support with 174 votes out of a total of 192 votes surpassing Japan, Iraq, South Korea, and Marshall Islands.

“There are a total of 193 ballots, 192 valid votes. Indonesia got 174 votes,” Tijjani said when announcing the results of the vote at the UN headquarters, as quoted by CNN.

This victory makes Indonesia will serve as a Member of the UN Human Rights Council representative of the Asia Pacific countries during 2020-2022.

Previously, Indonesia was elected as a Member of the UN Human Rights Council four times, namely the period 2015-2017, 2012-2014, 2008-2010, 2006-2007.

The other three countries that will represent Asia Pacific in the UN Human Rights Council are Japan with 165 votes, South Korea 165 votes, and Marshall Islands 123.

The UN Human Rights Council itself consists of 47 members. A total of 13 council seats are filled by representatives of African countries, 13 seats from Asia Pacific representatives, 8 seats for Latin American and Caribbean representatives, 7 seats for Western European countries and other countries, and 6 seats for Eastern Europe.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi expressed his gratitude and gratitude especially to his team and also the countries that supported Indonesia to become the UN Human Rights Council in the 2020-2022 period.

According to him, this success was the result of hard work with the entire Foreign Ministry team who had been preparing for Indonesia’s nomination in the UN Human Rights Council since a year ago.

He considered this opportunity could encourage Indonesia to contribute even more to advance respect for human rights globally. (T/Ast/P2)